Hate groups in the US show explosive growth

[Skybird]

http://www.splcenter.org/get-informe...roups-top-1000

The number of active hate groups in the United States topped 1,000 for the first time and the antigovernment “Patriot” movement expanded dramatically for the second straight year as the radical right showed continued explosive growth in 2010.

Several factors fueled the growth: resentment over the changing racial demographics of the country, frustration over the lagging economy, and the mainstreaming of conspiracy theories and other demonizing propaganda aimed at minorities and the government.

But the most dramatic growth in the radical right came in the antigovernment “Patriot” movement. These conspiracy-minded organizations, which see the federal government as their primary enemy, grew by 61 percent over the previous year. Their numbers increased to 824 groups in 2010, from 512 groups a year earlier. Previously, the only higher count of Patriot groups came in 1996, during the movement’s heyday, when the SPLC found 858 groups. Militias, the paramilitary arm of the Patriot movement, grew from 127 groups to 330 – a 160 percent increase.


“Nativist extremist” groups – organizations that go beyond mere advocacy of restrictive immigration policy to actually confront or harass suspected undocumented immigrants or their employers – saw their numbers increase by 3 percent, from 309 groups to 319.

Taken together, these three strands of the radical right – hate groups, nativist extremist groups and Patriot organizations – increased from 1,753 groups in 2009 to 2,145 in 2010, a 22 percent rise. That followed a 2008-09 increase of 40 percent.

What was it that happened in 2008...

[the_tyrant]

Originally Posted by Skybird

What was it that happened in 2008...

Obama got elected

[Growler]

Source is decidedly leftist.

What about left-leaning groups like ACLU, NAACP, NOW? They retain just as much of their influence - if they don't have MORE - as they did ten years ago. Are they not a threat to law and order?

I'm not saying the "Patriot" groups are any better - or any worse. What I'm saying is, there's cause/causes to celebrate - and deride - any political group in this country that takes itself way too seriously, and in so doing, screws things up for the rest of us.

[August]

Interesting way of counting they got there.

In New York alone The nazis are counted three times as are the klan. The Nation of Islam (they're the "Radical Right?" ) is also counted three times as is that other bastion of Radical Rightness, the National Black Foot Soldier Network . They even count the radical Catholics three times.

Then they count the nazi womens auxillary as a separate group, their hate literature publishers as a separate group. their trust fund providers as a separate group.

Do you see a pattern here?

The Southern Poverty Law Center, bless their little liberal hearts, mongers fear for their funding in much the same way that the NRA does. The more dire the threat the more they collect in donations.

[Freiwillige]

Yea it always worried me that these private special interest groups have a hand in Washington teaching politicians who the real bad guys are as if our own FBI/CIA/Police/ATF cant figure these things out.

Interesting way of counting they got there.

Yeah they count all the local groups as groups even if there is another branch of the group. so 4 locally based neo nazi groups counts as 4 groups even though they are all neo nazis.
The proper way to count is to forget local and state distinctions and go national.
We are pleased to announce there is only 1 neo nazi group in the US.

The Nation of Islam (they're the "Radical Right?" )

Yes very radical right, crazy religiously conservative fundamentalist racists with strange patriotism and identity "values".

They even count the radical Catholics three times.

They was going to count four, but Mel Gibson had decided against the move as he thinks there are too many jews in liberal NY

[NeonSamurai]

As Tribesman pointed out, They seem to be counting different branches separately, which I think is fair if you are trying to map how much hate groups are spreading/growing as they are unlikely to give you a member's count. Also they are counting all intolerant groups that spread a message of hate of someone or something. I would also certainly include publishers of hate texts as separate entities, as they often are associated with many different groups.

The only way I would see an issue with their counting scheme is if they have changed the way they do the counting, and did not properly update previous counts so as to inflate the changes.

[Tchocky]

Another thing that happened in 2008 was the onset of severe economic distress for many people.
This is the kind of environment that spurs on extremism.

[tater]

Nation of Islam members vote virtually 10% democrat.

Being a religious nut doesn't make a group "right," just "crazy."

Shouldn't they be counting membership, not "groups?"

[Gerald]

I would not in any way reduce the credibility of this "measurement" or information if you like, but you should Observe caution in interpreting its results often based on other references.

[August]

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

As Tribesman pointed out, They seem to be counting different branches separately, which I think is fair if you are trying to map how much hate groups are spreading/growing as they are unlikely to give you a member's count. Also they are counting all intolerant groups that spread a message of hate of someone or something. I would also certainly include publishers of hate texts as separate entities, as they often are associated with many different groups.

The only way I would see an issue with their counting scheme is if they have changed the way they do the counting, and did not properly update previous counts so as to inflate the changes.

I didn't read what Tribesman pointed out but you bet that nobody is giving member counts, on either side.

Really it's nothing but an accounting trick played by both the counters and those being counted. No, you don't have one group of 10 people you have 10 groups of undetermined size. Sounds scarier. It helps the SPLC get funding and it makes the hate group seem far larger and therefore more relevant than they really are. Win - win.

[tater]

I assume everyone has seen Life of Brian...

"We're the National Patriot Militia! The only thing we hate more than minorities is the National Militia of Patriots!" (where both groups have 2 members—it was a 4 member, single group until Obama was elected, then they disagreed on whether to call the President a Muslim, or a monkey, hence the violent split).

[August]

Originally Posted by tater

I assume everyone has seen Life of Brian...

"We're the National Patriot Militia! The only thing we hate more than minorities is the National Militia of Patriots!" (where both groups have 2 members—it was a 4 member, single group until Obama was elected, then they disagreed on whether to call the President a Muslim, or a monkey, hence the violent split).

Emo Phillips does a comedy routine like that:

Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, "Don't do it!" He said, "Nobody loves me." I said, "God loves you. Do you believe in God?"
He said, "Yes." I said, "Are you a Christian or a Jew?" He said, "A Christian." I said, "Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?" He said, "Protestant." I said, "Me, too! What franchise?" He said, "Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?" He said, "Northern Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist or Northern Liberal Baptist?"
He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist." I said, "Me, too! Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region, or Northern Conservative Baptist Eastern Region?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region." I said, "Me, too!"
Northern Conservative†Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1879, or Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912?" He said, "Northern Conservative Baptist Great Lakes Region Council of 1912." I said, "Die, heretic!" And I pushed him over.

[nikimcbee]

Does the list include the SEIU, AFL-CIO, IEBW. They all seem to be pretty active now.

[Growler]

Again, the issue boils down to ignorance of the causes of the problems while throwing stupidly large amounts of money at fixing/addressing symptoms.

SPLC spent money to produce that report, money which they will need to replace... so, if they can lean the report more towards a way that makes it look like they're providing a vital national security service, that cash flow'll be a'comin' on in.